Part Two...

You know that feeling. The pit in your stomach, pounding of your heart, and rush of your thoughts as you go from the possibility of a job loss to being homeless on the streets–all in a matter of seconds. Gripped by fear, albeit an imagined one.

As a children's director, if you are like me, you rarely make it through a full service let alone have the opportunity to attend a small group or special class. So what can you do to refresh your spirit and renew your ministry fervor? Attend a conference. The atmosphere itself is invigorating as teams of tired children's ministry workers pack in-giddy with excitement at the thought of spending quality time with like minded adults. 

“[The main thesis of this book] is that the family, with traditional religious roles for men and women in a life-long monogamous marriage relationship, is the abiding natural foundation for social order, happiness and stability. When that view is abandoned for selfish individualism the society will collapse and die.” – Carl W. Wilson, Our Dance Has Turned to Death.[1]

Carl W. Wilson’s book, Our Dance Has Turned to Death, examines the causes and effects of the disintegration of the American family. Published in 1979 (Yes, 1979!) it stands today as a prophetic voice from the not-too-distant past. This social theory still stands because it is well within a biblical framework. Not all is biblical, much is theoretical.  No matter which side you might prefer, it is still a good read. Drawing on a wide range of sources, from anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, and historians, as well as the Bible, Mr. Wilson’s book touches on a vast array of topics, including slavery, the industrial revolution, woman’s suffrage, feminism, sexuality, homosexuality, politics, economics, the military, etc. But be forewarned—men, women, Christian, secularist, leftwing, and right wing—you will probably be offended in some way; no matter what group you identify with, Carl W. Wilson will confront and challenge your conventional wisdom.

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you. When you call out to them, they will not respond to you’” (Jeremiah 7:27).

In preparing to do this blog, I did a little preliminary research. I was curious to see what a few quick Google searches on making Vacation Bible School evangelistic would yield. Not surprisingly VBS links and articles abound. Need help with themes? Never fear. Help with recruiting volunteers? Absolutely.  Games? Lessons? Crafts? Food? Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. However, little was readily available on training your church and workers in evangelism specifically related to VBS.

Sometimes believing God is more painful than not.  Praying for something consistently with no felt response can really smart, can’t it?  This is especially true if you’re someone who believes that God does things on the pavement of this life, not just in the next and not just in the spiritual realm.  Enter me.  I have seen God move in mighty ways and don’t believe material miracles have ceased.  What I believe and regularly experience, however, are at odds.  You see, I inhabit a body that is largely a nuisance and my prayers for physical healing have thus far been turned down.  If I saw Christ in the flesh, I would dive for the hem of his garment.  Until then, I pray.   I don’t know how many times I’ve asked for God’s healing, but he does. What I do know is that it’s difficult to keep asking, to hope that perhaps entreaty number 2,432 will be the one.

The NET Bible translates the Hebrew gēr as “resident foreigner.” But as we noted last time, this cultural term does not refer to just any non-Israelite residing in Israel’s borders. In Mosaic law, “resident foreigners” are essentially naturalized citizens. They have religiously, ceremonially, and legally become part of the congregation of Israel, have equal protections and obligations under the law, and participate in the worship of the Lord. So why does a gēr/resident foreigner/sojourner/naturalized citizen get to glean with the widows and orphans (Deut 24:19-21)? And why are they sometimes grouped with Levites to receive provisions (Deut 26:12)?

Often the worst day of the year for an infertile woman is Mother’s Day. On this holiday going to a house of worship can feel more like going to the house of mourning.

I'm embarrassed to admit that all my life I've been a blind voter. I would show up to vote, look over the list, recognize a few names from signs on the street and ads in the mail, and give those people power to make decisions for me. Occasionally I was so ignorant I would just pull a party lever, hoping the party had enough sense to pick good people for me. I would stifle my guilt by thinking , "Well, at least I voted." But today was different.

Yesterday I enjoyed a delicious lunch with a wonderful group of godly women. Although only a few of them are my close friends, I admire them all and look forward to our infrequent lunches because the conversation always refreshes me spiritually. In contrast, I remember another meal years ago with a friend and her friends where the discussion focused on the material and the physical. When I left, I was struck with the thought that much time with them would likely leave me feeling bad about my looks, my clothing, or my finances—or maybe all three. 

My choice of companions has made a huge difference in the person I am today. “As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend” (Prov. 27:17). Do your friends sharpen or dull you to the things of God?

A great marriage starts with the man! Bold statement huh? I agree but it’s true. If a couple wants a great marriage, that last, then it all starts with the man. But here’s the trick the man needs to be a man and not a boy or at least not act like a boy.

Walking the 3 miles from our house to Al’s Formal wear seemed like the best option.I needed to return my son’s tux from the high school prom and I needed time to process the present situation and clear my head.

Sometimes it's the simplest things that help us navigate life. The old, old adage "this too shall pass" is one of them.

Daniel Boyarin's study of the New Testament gospels will be a controversial book, not because of what it says but because of who says it. Boyarin is Professor of Talmudic Culture and rhetoric at the University of California at Berkeley.

"Is this really what I'm supposed to be doing with my life?" "I see what other people are doing, and I wonder if I'm really making any impact at all." "I felt good about my life until I realized she was the same age as me, and had done so much more." I've had a lot of conversations like this lately, and been on both sides of the issue. The angst is everywhere, so we think of it as a normal part of Christian life. However, generations of believers across the globe would find it foreign.

Before they hung Jesus on the cross, the soldiers offered him a little wine mixed with myrrh--a way to escape the full reality of his pain. Did you ever think seriously about why he refused?

“If you can’t take the time to do nothing, you’re a slave to doing. Doing nothing is a radical, revolutionary act. It frees you from the universal slavery of our age; slavery to the clock. The clock measures doing but not being.” – Peter Kreeft

What would you do if...during circle time with your preschoolers, one of the little girls in your class was pinching the little girl next to her.  How would you handle this situation?

(You’re welcome. Tee-hee!)

The Mother’s Day holiday can be like a minefield; fraught with opportunities for disaster and possible maiming. It’s not as dangerous as, say, Valentine’s Day, but the lingering effects of a badly thought-out gift can be pretty uncomfortable. Here are some ways to honor the moms in your life.

Have you noticed a trend toward women being portrayed as having less intimate but more sexual relationships?

Several summers ago I found myself meditating on the simple verse Micah 6:8, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? KJV.“ As I sought to understand each admonition I settled on the word humbly, asking the Lord what does it look like to walk in a humble manner.

In 1957, Leave It To Beaver premiered on CBS portraying the ideal family to 171 million Americans glued to 47 million televisions in 39 million homes.  A few months later, American Bandstand, hosted by Dick Clark, goes national when it moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and Studio “B”.  Dwight D. Eisenhower was President.  The Pink Flamingo was created by Union Products worker, Don Featherstone.  The Gyrating rocker, Elvis Presley, emerges as one of the world’s first rock stars.  The most popular toys?  Slinkys, Hula Hoops and Frisbees. The children’s book, “Cat in the Hat” is written by Theodore Geisel as Dr. Suess and Mr. Whipple begins selling us Squeezably Soft Charmin.  Eveready markets the first AA alkaline batteries for use in portable transistor radios – cutting edge technology on both counts.

Prices were much different:  The average car sold for $2749 while the average production worker made $82.32 per week.  The cost of a first rate postage stamp was only 3 cents.  The average cost of a new house was $12,200 while the cost of renting a like home was $90 a month.  Gasoline was 24 cents a gallon.  Bacon was 60 cents a pound.  Eggs 28 cents a dozen.

A decade before my birth, 1957 was also the last year a child born in America was permitted to openly pray at the beginning of a school day in the nation’s public school system.

In church, relationships, spiritual life, and politics, if you insist on perfection or nothing, you get nothing. I learned this valuable lesson as a young mother from Edith Schaeffer, the wife of the late Francis Schaeffer.

Hos 3:1 And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”

Have you ever treated a waiter, waitress, cashier, clerk, phone solicitor, door to door salesman, bellboy, maid, or any other service oriented/servant type person less than good or nice? I know I have. In fact the more I think about it, the more I realize what a “jerk” I’ve been to at least two or three of those kinds of folks. Sometimes, I don’t even look at their eyes when they speak to me. Shame on me! The truth is we all do that! We blow people off all of the time and sometimes treat servant-oriented people less than they deserve. Oh come on now…admit it you’ve been a jerk too! You’d be lying if you said you haven’t. I don’t even know why we do it but we do! The sad thing is that we are actually acting completely the opposite of Jesus. You see Jesus would never blow off anyone, especially the lowly servant. He would look into their eyes and talk to those people and share His good news with them. He might even wash their feet! Yikes!

I’m a terrible dancer. For weeks leading up to our wedding, my husband and I practiced that step-slide-slide movement until I could stumble my way through it. Our one dance together was simple—no twists or turns—just three stilted steps.

I am excited about the publication of our new book entitled The Gospel According to Isaiah 53 - it is the fruit of a conference that was held at Irving Bible Church a few years ago. Some of the finest scholars in the Body of Christ have contributed to this book!

Once the tunnels are dug the men can begin to squeeze through them to start the insertion of 11 steel piers under our foundation. To raise the sinking middle of our house’s foundation they have to get the dirt out before they can begin the restoration process...

In part 1, I talked about grieving as a necessary part of emotional healing. The other part is forgiving, separating ourselves emotionally and spiritually from the offense so that we can continue to be healthy toward the offender. As I said last time, forgiving is like pulling out the soul-splinter that is causing pain and the emotional "pus" that accumulates from unresolved pain and anger. (Grieving discharges this emotional pus.) Forgiving releases the person who hurt us into the Lord's care, for Him to deal with.

The fishing was good, very good.  It had been a long day of flies caught on willow branches, water in the waders, and some big trout in the net.  As all experienced fishermen do, we sat around the dinner table telling stories of the day that somewhat resembled reality.  The conversation eventually turned to our families.  One of my friends said something that I’ve been pondering for almost a year now.  You know, a phrase or sentence that wedges itself in your mind and won’t go away, like a 70’s song in an elevator.  He had been talking about